[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Afbeeldingen.jpg]][[caption-width-right:350:[[VisualPun Long Bus]] [[MemeticMutation is Loooooong!]]]]

A Long Bus Trip is when a character is PutOnABus in such a way that arranging a return would be simple, but then the character never actually comes back. This is most striking when the audience only learns of it retroactively, especially when the character was intended or hinted to be returning. It may also occur as the result of a series being LeftHanging.

CharacterOutlivesActor is a form of this enforced by RealLife. When it's the result of AuthorExistenceFailure, that's TheCharacterDiedWithHim.

When this is done to a character in-story as a coverup for execution, it's ReleasedToElsewhere.

Compare ChuckCunninghamSyndrome and PutOnABusToHell. Contrast BusCrash (which kills the character outright) and BackForTheDead (when the character returns briefly, only to be killed off), and TheBusCameBack for that one single return.

The image is of a ''truly'' [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bi-articulated_bus long bus]] from the [[http://www.transmilenio.gov.co/ TransMilenio]] [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus_rapid_transit bus rapid transit]] (a rapid transit mode that can be thought of as "the future of transit") system in Bogotá, Colombia. This has since been taken up in other countries: when the "Bendy Buses" arrived in England, at first there were little calamities when drivers who under-estimated their length tried to manouevre them around nineteenth century road corners designed for horse and cart. It's also being taken up in UsefulNotes/{{Chicago}}, with a planned BRT on Ashland Avenue.

-----!!Examples:

[[foldercontrol]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'':** Ash promised that he'd come back for Pidgeot when he returned. Eighteen seasons later (including four returns to Kanto), he still hasn't come back for it.** Maybe an even more ridiculous one would be Ash's Primeape, which was PutOnABus less than five episodes after Ash caught it, left in the care of somebody who promised to turn it into "a true champion". It was never seen again... in the dub. In the original dialog, there was no line of him returning for the Pokémon. Yet, the openings ''Spurt!'' (the final opening of ''Advance Generation'') and ''Yajirushi ni Natte!'' (the second opening of ''Best Wishes'') still count Primeape and Squirtle as Pokémon who still are in his ownership.** Almost everyone Ash meets, he promises to see again. Only a fraction of those end up being recurring characters.** The last above would also apply to the Kanto Gym Leaders, as Ash does travel to the cities where Sabrina and Koga hold court in the ''Battle Frontier'' season to fight in the facilities of the eponymous organization. This actually makes those two Gym Leaders, as well as Misty's sisters (as Misty left them at the Cerulean City limits) an inversion, as it would've been easy for Ash to visit them but he didn't. Given that the episodes included some frame-for-frame recreations of the cities in question as depicted in the first season, this comes off as [[TrollingCreator outright trolling by the animators]] of anybody who'd been watching the series long enough to remember Sabrina and Koga.* At the end of the second arc (and second episode of the anime adaptation) of ''Manga/KingOfBanditJing'', the nine-tailed fox Sherry swears to one day come back for vengeance against the titular thief. The series ended without her ever showing up again.* The Amazoness Quartet in the first ''Anime/SailorMoon'' anime. They mention that fate may bring them to meet the Sailor Senshi again, hinting they'd possibly return in the next arc. This wasn't unreasonable, considering that their [[Manga/SailorMoon manga]] counterparts did exactly that, as the Sailor Quartet, guardians to Sailor Chibimoon. However, they never appear in the anime again.* The character Gin from one of the earliest arcs in ''Manga/OnePiece'' stated that he wanted to see the Straw Hat Pirates again on the Grand Line. Over 500 chapters, half of the Grand Line, and a two year time skip later, Gin still has yet to be so much as mentioned again. And this is in a series where the author seemingly [[ChekhovsGunman never forgets about characters]]. Of course, the series is not over yet, but each passing arc (and [[SortingAlgorithmOfEvil dramatic increase in the power of the villains]]) makes it more and more difficult to imagine Gin ever coming back. Though ''One Piece'' is definitively not a series where a person CantCatchUp, since there have been examples of characters who were weak or even outright noncombatants [[TookALevelInBadass reappearing after long absences as legitimate badasses]], no one has ever done so after ''that'' long. Then again, Gin was suffering from Don Krieg's [=MH5=] poison at the time, and coughed up blood before he left, meaning [[BusCrash he could have died off-screen]].* In the ''Manga/InuYasha'' manga, Kouga appears more and more often, even joining the heroes' team for a while, until Naraku finally takes his Shikon shards, then he's gone and never appears again. Despite Kouga having just received his tribe's very powerful ancestral weapon, meaning he's no longer reliant on those Shikon shards to fight at the heroes' level. Even Houjou, Kagome's other HopelessSuitor, gets an appearance in the final volume.* This is the case of [[spoiler:Asuna]] in ''Manga/MahouSenseiNegima''. [[spoiler:As a result of the events of the Magic World, Asuna's fate was to sleep in the Gravekeeper's Palace for a century.]]** [[spoiler:[[SubvertedTrope Subverted]] two issues later, after she wakes up and breaks down in one, and is brought back via [[TimeTravel Cassieopia]] at the start of the next.]]* At the end of ''Anime/HeatGuyJ'', [[TheHero Daisuke]] [[RidingIntoTheSunset rides off into the sunset]] on his motorcycle to go explore the post-apocalyptic world outside of Judoh. Kyoko [[IWillWaitForYou promises to wait for him]], giving him three years to return, and Daisuke promises to come back. Because the series was LeftHanging, however, he never ''did'' come back. * Erza's friends from the Tower of Heaven and [[spoiler:Mystogan]] in ''Manga/FairyTail''** [[spoiler:Millianna]] comes back, though.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Books]]* Two sets of ''ComicBook/XMen'' dove into what was essentially Hell to rescue their version of seven year old Illyana Rasputin from a demonic wizard named Belasco. One set got her out safely but were trapped themselves (the lucky ones died), the other set escaped but their Illyana spent seven years stuck there as Belasco's student while getting her soul sacrificed piece by piece before she overthrew him and returned to earth a heartbeat after Kitty lost her grip. A few years later, after Illyana's apparent HeroicSacrifice, her eldritch armor was torn open to find a seven year old and wholly uncorrupted version of her. It was over twenty years before the X-writers were permitted to account for what was obvious to most readers at the time... it could ''easily'' have been the other Illyana. Let's face it: for the X-Men, death is essentially being PutOnTheBus.* ''ComicBook/XWingSeries'': Elscol, a guerrilla leader who joined Rogue Squadron in the first arc of the comics, quit at the end of the arc following that. She knew that what she was doing was making a difference, but she knew any other good pilot could do as well, and she chafed under orders. She left without malice towards the squadron, hinting that she would try and talk Sixtus Quinn into joining the Rebel Alliance. But although plenty of other allies showed up again during the series, including a commando leader from that same issue, Elscol and Sixtus didn't. Not until the novels, anyway.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Comic Strips]]* The title character of the newspaper comic ''ComicStrip/RobotmanAndMonty'' was written out of the strip, at the request of the comic's syndicate (tired of fielding complaints from readers confusing the absurdist humor strip with the [[TastesLikeDiabetes much more kid-friendly "Robotman & Friends"]] toys and books). It would be easy to bring Robotman back (he's alive and well in space), but that's unlikely.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]* A pretty common way for the unwanted part of a LoveTriangle to be removed from the competition without going straight to DieForOurShip.* Dr. Andrew, a DeliveryGuy [=OC=] who helps the Mistress deliver [[spoiler: [[UntoUsASonAndDaughterAreBorn mixed-gender twins]]]] in Chapter 13 of the ''WesternAnimation/{{Superjail}}'' fanfic [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/8803490/1/Extended-Stay Extended Stay]], appears in this chapter only to never be seen again for the rest of the fanfic. The only thing that hints at his return is when he tells the new parents to call him back in when they're ready for him.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Literature]]* In John Bunyan's ''Literature/PilgrimsProgress'', Christian (or Pilgrim, depending on which version you're reading) has to fight the beast Apollyon. When he's defeated, Apollyon swears vengeance on Christian, but aside from a couple of name-drops, Apollyon is never mentioned again.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]* On the series ''Series/{{Becker}},'' the character "Reggie" (Terry Farrell) was put on a LongBusTrip when Farrell was booted from the series under suspicious circumstances (she has told interviewers that it came as a complete shock to her and that she is unsure of exactly why it happened, although she reportedly led a strike among the show's cast). Farrell was even fired before the episode was filmed, and thus never even ''appeared'' on the episode where she was placed on the long bus trip, but was dismissed in a rather unflattering way where Farrell herself vanished but Reggie's continued presence was inferred (i.e. it was simply ''related'' that she slept with Becker, and it made her realize that she needed a change ''immediately''). This was all done in a ''very'' implausibly slipshod way, obviously trumped up at the last minute: i.e. it was inferred that Reggie was popping in and out without Farrel ever being on-camera during the entire epsisode, and finally Reggie said good-bye to the cast in a phone-call that was ''dictated'' to them all by a complete stranger (don't ask-- I ''said'' it was implausibly slipshod). * ''Franchise/PowerRangers:''** What became of Trini and Zack after that trip to Switzerland is unknown, and is especially mysterious since Jason came back for ''Zeo'' and two guest appearances after.** A better example would be Rocky: he didn't even leave Angel Grove, he just stopped hanging with the Rangers. Per WordOfGod, they tried to get Steve Cardenas to come back for "[[MilestoneCelebration Forever Red]]", but he didn't respond in time -- and even if he had, Rocky would have just been Tommy's butler, rather than being given the unused-in-America ''Series/GoseiSentaiDairanger'' costume as fans believed.** And though bringing them all back would naturally be problematic production-wise, there are many past Rangers whose powers still exist, so you'd think they'd drop by for certain global catastrophies. In particular, Countdown to Destruction could've benefitted from a few "stock footage shoots at other stock footage" type scenes from the Zeo Rangers and the (never stated to be in continuity, but why not?) [[Series/BigBadBeetleborgs other]] [[Series/MaskedRider Saban]][[note]]while Masked Rider does technically exist in PR continuity, since "A Friend in Need" was a PoorlyDisguisedPilot for the aforementioned ''Masked Rider'', no elements from Masked Rider are referenced in Power Rangers after that 3 parter, nor does Masked Rider reference any of the events of ''Power Rangers''[[/note]] [[Series/VRTroopers shows]].* The departure of David Caruso from ''{{NYPD Blue}}'' was an example of this trope. Detective John Kelly doesn't even resign from the force. He simply moves to another precinct, leaving the option open for potential guest appearances in the future. There were even some hints later in the same season of his character coming back to be the best man at Detective Sipowicz's wedding, but a handwave was used to explain why it doesn't actually happen (in real life the actor simply would not have agreed to return, even as a one-shot guest appearance, nor would producer David Milch have wanted him back).** Implausibly; Kelly doesn't even ''visit'' his best friend Andy Sipowicz even when Andy gets married, no matter how badly Sipowicz obviously misses him. (WordOfGod says that the NYPD Blue producer kept a ''picture' of Caruso on his desk whenever any actor came to discuss a raise.)* Fer(r)etti in ''Series/StargateSG1''. Kawalsky's death in the first regular episode leaves him the only surviving member of the original ''Film/{{Stargate}}'' team other than O'Neil(l) and Daniel, and he was shown to be leading an SG team of his own in his several-second cameo in the first season finale. He was mentioned once more in season three, then permanently and entirely forgotten, though as a team leader, you'd think he'd at least be seen or mentioned around the SGC every so often. (Meanwhile, via flashbacks, {{time travel}}, and {{parallel universe}}s, ''Kawalsky'' has returned ''plenty'' of times.) ** Of course, the really weird thing about this is that Ferretti was made leader of [=SG2=] at the end of his last appearance, and [=SG2=] is never shown or mentioned again. [=SG3=] are recurring characters, and teams with numbers up to 25 are mentioned sometimes, but [=SG2=] is never spoken of. It's almost as though the writers were planning to have him make an appearance at some point, but never got around to it.** Jonas Quinn, after being a regular cast member in Season 6, hasn't been even ''mentioned'' in the Stargate universe since Season 7, even when his planet was invaded by the Ori. Even a ''Series/StargateUniverse'' episode involving said planet shows no sign of him.** Lt. Ford in ''Series/StargateAtlantis'', in an example that crosses over with NeverFoundTheBody, disappeared never to return following a hive ship explosion halfway through the second season. His conspicuous failure to return is more glaring in light of Sheppard's outright statement of relative certainty that he somehow survived and would turn up again at some point.* In ''Series/{{Coupling}}'' (the original British version) Jeff disappears between series 3 and 4 as a result of his actor not wanting to return. His absence is explained by a hilarious one sided phone conversation with Steve "No, Jeff, the name of the island is pronounced Les-BOSS..... well that was fairly over-optimistic of you really wasn't it?". By the end of the show, Jeff is still "trapped" on Lesbos as a result of not being able get a passport... or something; WordOfGod has it that he ultimately decided to live there.* ''Series/ShiningTimeStation'' wrote out Ringo Starr's Mr. Conductor by having him accompany Santa Claus to the North Pole. A relative, also called Mr. Conductor (and bearing a resemblance to Creator/GeorgeCarlin) took his place, and the original Mr. Conductor was never seen or heard from again afterward. * When ''Series/MamasFamily'' transitioned from NBC to CBS, and the actors for the two characters were no longer available, Buzz and Sonja were said to have gone off to college...and were never heard from again. Not even at Christmas.* On ''Series/TheWestWing'', Sam Seaborn left the White House in order to run for Congress, which would have made him an excellent candidate for future cameos in the series. Although [[spoiler: it is finally revealed at the end of the series that he lost the race]] there seems to be little good in-universe reason for why he completely vanished.** Especially since they decided in the episode "Inauguration" to promote him to Senior Counselor to the President if he lost. This was just another subplot that was dropped entirely when Creator/AaronSorkin left.* On ''Series/{{Dallas}}'', Barbara Bel Geddes (who played the matriarch of the Ewing family, Mrs. Ellie) left the series in 1990 because she was quitting acting. The official reason in-show was that she was leaving to go on a tour of the Orient, and (off-screen) deeded the Southfork ranch to her son, Bobby. Despite her appearances in several of the Dallas reunion specials, she never appeared in either of the two television movies (J.R. Returns and War of the Ewings) made in the 90's.* Alex (who literally gets on a bus), Darcy, Mia, Ashley, and many other characters on ''Series/DegrassiTheNextGeneration'' end their runs on the show this way. ** It's actually pretty funny that Peter's last two girlfriends, Mia and Darcy, both took long bus trips straight to The CW to star in other teen dramas. ** The Execs are not unaware of this bit of humor, and commented when 18 To Life got an airtime on The CW, it was the first time a Degrassi Alum got a CW series without dating Peter. Then talked about doing a Degrassi Mini where [[RetCon Peter and Ellie date]].** Alli's older brother Sav graduates from Degrassi and is never seen again, not for any holidays, or Alli's birthdays, or even when she is a victim of DomesticAbuse. Although most of the Degrassi cast members GraduateFromTheStory at some point, Sav's absence is notable because he is the brother of a current cast member. * Dr Goodman from ''Series/{{Bones}}'' went on a "six month sabbatical" on the second season opener and that is literally the last time we've ever heard of him. He didn't appear, or even get ''mentioned'', on the show's 100th episode which was specifically a "before the pilot" flashback.* Alice from ''Series/{{Soap}}''. [[spoiler:She moves out of Jodie's apartment when Carol's mother said she isn't happy with her granddaughter (Jodie's child) growing up with a lesbian - the show was made in the 70s. She chose to move out so Jodie didn't have to make that choice but she never turns up even as a friend again]].* ''Series/DoctorWho'':** [[Recap/DoctorWho20thASTheFiveDoctors "The Five Doctors"]] notwithstanding, Sarah Jane was left on Earth for 30([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNIT_dating_controversy ish]]) years before [[Recap/DoctorWhoS29E3SchoolReunion resurfacing in 2006]] and getting her own [[Series/TheSarahJaneAdventures spinoff show]]. The reason that it was a bus trip rather than simply been written out was that [[Recap/DoctorWhoS14E2TheHandOfFear Sarah Jane was forced to leave]] because [[Recap/DoctorWhoS14E3TheDeadlyAssassin the Doctor was summoned to Gallifrey]].** Jenny, [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E6TheDoctorsDaughter the Doctor's daughter]], was shown to have revived and left the planet she was on to follow in her father's footsteps. Creator/GeorgiaMoffett has expressed interest in reprising the role, as well, but it seems doubtful now that anything will come of it.** As New Who progresses more characters come back from a long Bus Trip (not counting the Franchise/DoctorWhoExpandedUniverse). Series 1 had the Autons after 34 years, Series 3 had the Macra after 40 years, Series 7 had the Great Intelligence after 44 years, and the 50th Anniversary had the Zygons after 38 years.** The Pandorica Opens had a bus with a lot of passengers coming back for the LegionOfDoom from the Classic Series, including the Zygons and Drahvins. However we only see the creatures that have been in New Who, meaning a lot of fans felt this was a missed opportunity.** The Eighth Doctor himself returned after seventeen years for the mini-sode [[Recap/DoctorWho50thPrequelTheNightOfTheDoctor "The Night of the Doctor"]].* ''Series/TheATeam'': Col. Lynch (Bill Lucking) is put on a long bus trip, after appearing in the first season. He's replaced by Col. Decker (Lance LeGault), who in turn was PutOnABus and replaced by General "Bull" Fullbright (Jack Ging). Decker returned for the A-Team's court martial in Season 5.* This was done to Brooke Smith's character Erica Hahn on ''Series/GreysAnatomy'' for no apparent reason whatsoever: they spent several episodes building up her relationship with Callie, including an excellent scene where she tearfully declares that Callie "[[ComingOutStory is glasses]]," only to randomly fire her because the writers stopped liking their own story. Erica and Callie get in a fight about the Izzie LVAD-cutting debacle and about how Callie "[[NoBisexuals can't be]] ''[[NoBisexuals kind of]]'' [[NoBisexuals a lesbian]]," and she walked off into the parking lot...''forever.'' She was then more or less replaced with perky LipstickLesbian Arizona Robbins. Further proof of Shonda Rhimes' ridiculous and fickle casting habits.* ''Series/{{Neighbours}}'' Marlene Kratz went on a three month cruise in 1997. She's due back any day now.** Also Connor, who was either killed by Paul Robinson's [[EvilTwin crazy son]] or went on a LongBusTrip overseas.* ''Series/SpinCity'' has a knack for dumping characters [[BrotherChuck without acknowledging this]]. So when, towards the end of season three, Mike gets a temp secretary assisted to him because Stacy Paterno was sick, you'd expect the character to return. Cue episode two of season four, in which James becomes Mike's new assistant because he still hadn't got a new one and James would be out of a job otherwise. In between, no statement whatsoever is made about Stacey.* Sergeant Scott of ''Series/MidsomerMurders'' was mentioned as having called in sick in one episode. That was the last mention of him. Especially jarring since both his predecessor ''and'' his successor was phased out simply by having them promoted and therefore moved to a different position in the police force.* Peyton Sawyer from ''Series/OneTreeHill''. Both she and [[spoiler: her husband]] Lucas and [[spoiler: their daughter]] were PutOnABus after season 6. However, only [[TheBusCameBack Lucas returned]] in the final season.* Will Scarlett and Djaq stayed in the Holy Land at the end of series 2 of ''Series/RobinHood''. Fans hoped for a reappearance in series 3, but they never turned up again. No one even ''mentioned'' them ever again.* On ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'', Mark Brendanawicz left his government job to return to the private sector at the end of season 2. This was originally intended to turn him into a DropInCharacter, but instead he simply dropped out of the show entirely (actor Paul Schneider wanted to return to movies and had little desire to return to the show). Even though Mark should still be living in Pawnee, a relatively small town, he is never seen, heard from or even ''mentioned'' again... to the point that in a season 5 episode when Ann, whom he dated for most of season 2, clears out boxes full of ex-boyfriends' stuff from her house, there's ''no box for Mark''.* Many, Many characters on ''Series/HouseOfAnubis'' were put on some long bus rides...and then never mentioned again. The most notable include [[EnsembleDarkHorse Jason Winkler]], [[ManipulativeBastard Vera Devinish]], and [[LovableJock Mick Campbell.]] [[TheBusCameBack At least Mick got a cameo a the end of season 3...]]* In ''Series/TwentyFour'', the fan favorite villain Mandy is last seen in the final of Season 4 [[spoiler: making a deal in exchange for immunity from her past and present crimes]], much like a certain other recurring female villain who did make a reappearance. While it could be argued that she left her life of crime after this, she was intended to return in Seasons 7 and 8, but the decision was dropped to avoid making "sensational moves", although there is a chance she might return in a spinoff.* In the beginning of the second season of ''Series/EnemyAtTheDoor'', Clare Martel has a nervous breakdown, and is prescribed a period of rest and seclusion away from anything that might remind her of her troubles. She goes to stay as a guest at a convent, and although there are reports of her progress every few episodes, she never appears on-screen again.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Video Games]]* Largo [=LaGrande=] is [=LeChuck=]'s second in command and was last seen in ''VideoGame/MonkeyIsland2LeChucksRevenge'' in a blown-up evil lair that... wasn't even really that blown up. He has not been seen at later points in the series despite [=LeChuck=]'s constant appearances.** He did show up in an AprilFoolsDay "teaser" of ''Monkey Island 5'', perhaps in recognition of this trope.* ''VideoGame/HalfLife'': Adrian Shepard hasn't made an appearance in quite some time.** Likewise, Valve is directly invoking this trope for [[VideoGame/{{Portal}} Chell]], so as to stick to their desired plan of using a different protagonist in future games. Chell was only brought back for VideoGame/{{Portal 2}} by playtester demand.** However, [[WordOfGod Gabe Newell]] has said that Chell will have some importance in the Half-Life universe, so who knows?** [[{{Vaporware}} Half-Life itself]] has been on rather long bus ride for nearly a decade that has no sign of ending soon, so pretty much all of the above examples are moot, regardless.* [[OneShotCharacter Marine the Raccoon]] from ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' is one of the few characters that's most likely to come back. Yet as of 2011, we haven't heard from her since her [[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries first game appearance]]. However, she was briefly mentioned in the DS version of ''VideoGame/SonicColors'' as well as a costume in ''[[VideoGame/MarioAndSonicAtTheOlympicGames Mario & Sonic at The London 2012 Olympic Games]]''.** Also on the ''Sonic'' bus: [[VideoGame/SegaSonicTheHedgehog Ray the Flying Squirrel]], [[VideoGame/KnucklesChaotix Mighty the Armadillo]], [[VideoGame/SonicAdventure Big the Cat]], [[VideoGame/SonicRiders Jet the Hawk]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehogTripleTrouble Fang the Sniper/Nack the Weasel]], [[VideoGame/SonicHeroes E-123 Omega]] [[note]]to be fair, Omega is more a supporting character to Shadow and Rouge than he is to Sonic[[/note]], [[VideoGame/SonicTheFighters Bean the Dynamite, and Bark the Polar Bear]]. At least they got cameos as figurines or on [[LampshadeHanging wanted and missing posters]] in ''VideoGame/SonicGenerations''.*** Nack/Fang is especially bizarre, as he didn't even get a card in the Twitter-based game Sonic Tweet, even though all of the games he made a major appearance in (other than ''Sonic the Fighters/Sonic Championship'') had cards.** [[VideoGame/SonicRushSeries Eggman]] [[VideoGame/SonicRivals Nega]] and Tikal as well. They didn't even show up in ''Generations''.*** Tikal can be excused by the fact that [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence she's off with Chaos at... wherever it is they went off to at the end of]] ''[[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence Adventure]]''. That being said, Tikal didn't reappear alongside Chaos [[VideoGame/SonicBattle in his only other canonical appearance]], and she did not show up (but was referenced on movie posters) in ''Generations'', which features Perfect Chaos as a boss fight.** Also Shade, who hasn't been referenced at all since [[VideoGame/SonicChronicles her debut]]. This one is more justifiable in that ''Chronicles'' is [[CanonDiscontinuity non-canon]], supposedly the furthest event in the series chronologically speaking, was not received well by fans for being another ObviousBeta game finished to contract requirements (though it got a better critical reception at the time), and earned the makers of the game and comic book publisher Archie a DEFCON-2 to DEFCON-1 backlash from former writer Ken Penders, who accused them of [[TheyCopiedItSoItSucks copying his Sonic character Julie-Su for Shade]]; this backlash and Archie's failure to deal with it properly led to a [[ScrewedByTheLawyers messy legal battle that forced them to reboot their comic without Penders's characters]] and effectively zoned out any ideas of a sequel. ** Out of all the characters who appeared in the other notorious ObviousBeta game ''[[VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006 Sonic '06,]]'' only one major character, Silver The Hedgehog, has made further appearances due to the game becoming an instant OldShame and near-FranchiseKiller and retconing itself and the other characters [[{{Retgone}} in it out of existence]] due to the backlash against it; Silver's backstory was changed significantly for his other appearances. Several Iblis fire enemies did return for ''Sonic Generations''.** [[VideoGame/SonicBattle Emerl]] is another offender. Sure, [[spoiler:he gets offed at the end of ''Battle'']], but given his interactions with the rest of the cast and the fact that ''[[VideoGame/SonicAdvanceTrilogy Sonic Advance 3]]'' all but outright states that [[spoiler:he's been revived in some fashion as G-mel/Gemerl (who is repaired, reprogrammed, and shown to be playing with Cream in the epilogue)]], you'd think he'd show up again ''sometime''.* The elemental masks, Zem, Zam, Rusty Walrus, Pasadena Possum and Von Clutch from the ''Franchise/CrashBandicoot'' series.* The Nerevarine from ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind'' seems to have disappeared on a trip to Akavir sometime before ''Oblivion'' and is never mentioned again, despite his seeming importance as leader of most of Morrowind and an immortal godlike being.* Before ''VideoGame/{{Pokemon}} Bank'', Brigette's last appearance was in ''Pokémon Box Ruby and Sapphire'' three generations ago.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Web Original]]* Tariq Bhartti of ''WebVideo/KateModern'' left abruptly for India and never returned.* Greg the Spider from ''Machinima/ArbyNTheChief'' left after being resented by Arbiter from a lie Chief forced him to tell. Considering [[StuffBlowingUp what happened at]] [[TearJerker/ArbyNTheChief the season's end]], he won't be coming back either.[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]* Amazo in ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'' teleports himself away from Earth in the middle of a battle, after seeing the monster of the week absorb his attack and become more powerful for it. Though the foe is defeated mere minutes later, Amazo never returns.** In the commentary the creators say that they wanted to add a gag at the end of the final episode (a year or whatever later) where [[OffscreenInertia Amazo is sitting on an asteroid somewhere wondering if it's okay to return to Earth yet.]]* Eddie from WesternAnimation/RoverDangerfield. He didn't move out to the farm with Rover in the end so his fate is unknown.* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/{{GIJoe}}'' had a third-party villain called the Gamemaster kidnap Flint, Lady Jae, the Baroness, and Cobra Commander, and put the four of them through a DeadlyGame set in his AmusementParkOfDoom on an island. The episode ended with the villain fleeing while the [[EnemyMine combined forces of both Joe and Cobra]] attacked the island, but while he swore revenge as he escaped, he never reappeared. * An episode of ''WesternAnimation/ThomasTheTankEngine'' introduced a character named "Derek The Diesel" who suffered from "teething troubles" . At the end of the episode he was sent off to have the "troubles" repaired, but aside from a cameo (from the back) during a music video in the special "Calling All Engines" he has not been seen since.** Considering that his model was [[ShownTheirWork based on a locomotive design that really was that unreliable]] (details [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_17 here]]), it's entirely possible they're still not there yet.* Warren T. Rat and his gang in ''WesternAnimation/AnAmericanTail'' are defeated by putting them on a ship headed for Hong Kong. Instead of having them come back for the sequels they instead brought in new villains for each movie.* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'':** One episode involves a rescue mission for Sokka's father Hakoda and girlfriend Suki. They also pick up a new character, Chit Sang. When Azula attacks the group in the next episode, Chit Sang is [[PutOnABus put on an airship]] with Hakoda, Haru, Teo and The Duke and is the only one not to return at the end of the series finale.** See also The Earth King, who takes off on his own at the beginning of season 3 and is never seen again. ''Presumably'' he comes back after Ba Sing Se is liberated, but he's never shown in the series, appearing only much later in the follow-up comics.** Also Hawkie, the messenger hawk Sokka buys while in the Fire Nation. Toph uses it to send a message to her parents and it's never seen again. Dear Toph and Katara, how were you expecting the hawk to find you when you are always [[WalkingTheEarth travelling]]?* Happens to both Blackarachnia and Waspinator at the end of ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' based on the events of the episode "Predacons Rising." Adding to this was the fact that Waspinator's final lines in the show were "Waspinator has plans..."** Though this was mainly because the fourth season for the show was cancelled.* Donny, Cobbler and the garden gnomes from ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime''.** N.E.P.T.R. first appears roughly halfway through season one. He isn't seen again until the season 4 premiere, playing Hide and Seek. Apparently, Finn and Jake [[LampshadeHanging forgot about this]].* The Creator/JasonAlexander-voiced character Sal from ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad''.* Brian's cousin, Jasper, and Jasper's boyfriend, Ricardo, has been subjected to this trope in ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy''. Jasper appeared twice in a CutawayGag and then twice more in two episodes; the first one made Jasper and Ricardo a OneSceneWonder and their next appearance several seasons later sets up the plot over gay marriage in Quahog. Jasper is seen talking to Brian on Skype in "Brian's Play" but otherwise hasn't appeared since.* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Allison Taylor first appeared in "Lisa's Rival" in Season 6. While she was seen in the background in a few episodes (at least a girl was seen in a few that looked like her) she didn't have a speaking role again until "Lard of the Dance" in Season 10.[[/folder]]----